Loop dryer for drying non-uniform sheet material



R. C. PARKES Sept. 6, 1960 LOOP DRYER FOR DRYING NON-UNIFORM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 16, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

RALPH C. PARKES BY ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1960 R. c. PARKES 2,951,698

LOOP DRYER FOR DRYING NON-UNIFORM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec. 16, 1957 4 Sheets5heet 2 o L "y l n l l .lol lol 1110i I l M IOI l INVENTOR.

RALPH C. PARKES ATTORNEY R. C. PARKES Sept. 6, 1960 LOOP DRYER FOR DRYING NON-UNIFORM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Dec.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

RALPH C. PARKESI awfla ATTQIRNEY m wt R. C. PARKES Sept. 6, 1960 LOOP DRYER FOR DRYING NON-UNIFORM SHEET MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

RALPH C. PARKES BY ATTORNEY United States, ate t LOOP DRYER FOR DRYING NON-UNIFORM SHEET MATERIAL Ralph C. Parkes, Glenside, Pa. (2701 N. Hancock St., Philadelphia 33, Pa.)

Filed Dec. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 703,128

Claims. 01. 226-29) A loop drying machine includes a drying chamber, a number of poles extending transversely of the chamber for supporting the material to be dried in the form of loops suspended from the poles, an endless conveyor for propelling the poles through the drying chamber, a feed mechanism for delivering the material to be dried to the poles and a delivery mechanism for withdrawing the material from the drying chamber.

Machines of this type are conventionally used for drying various textile and non-textile webs which are relatively thin and flexible and are of generally uniform texture. Materials of this type are delivered to the drying chamber, by means of constantly running feed rolls, onto continuously moving poles, and are withdrawn from the drying chamber by means of constantly running delivery rolls. Because the materials are relatively thin and flexible and are of a generally uniform texture, they can be formed into uniform loops suspended from the poles by merely synchronizing the rate of delivery of the material onto the poles and the rate of withdrawal of the material from the drying chamber with the rate of movement of the poles through the drying chamber.

When, however, the material to be dried is not thin and flexible, or is not of uniform thickness or texture, or when the material to be dried is in the nature of a finished product having various parts of diiferent sizes and shapes, such as a parachute, or the like, it' cannot be formed into loops suspended from the poles in the manner described.

It is, therefore, one object of the invention to produce a positive loop forming mechanism which coacts with the conventional feed mechanism of a loop dryer to form a parachute or other non-uniform finished object into loops suspended from the poles in a manner which is wholly subject to the control of the operator of the machine.

For best efficiency, a drying machine should be loaded to capacity and, when cloth, or other continuous and homogeneous web is to be dried, and, if the width of the web is substantially less than the width of the drying chamber, two or more pieces can be draped, side by side, on the same pole and such pieces of material may be fed onto the poles, and may be withdrawn from the poles by single, continuously. running feed and delivery mechanisms, But, when the drying machine is used for drying parachutes, or other, non-uniform objects, and, if the width of one parachute is substantially less than the width of the drying chamber, so that two parachutes have to be draped, side by side, on a pole, two parachutes cannot beproperly draped onto a pole simultaneously by a single, continuously running feed mechanism, norcan they be withdrawn from the drying chamber by means of a single continuously running delivery mechanism. is due to the fact that parachutes may be ofditferent shapes and sizes and have very bulky parts such as the balloon and the packand have a number of shroud lines and so forth. t

Fatented Sept. 6, 1960 It is, therefore, a further object of the invention to produce a loop drying machine which is provided with two, or more, separate, and individually operable, feed mechanisms for feeding two or more parachutes, or other non-uniform objects to be dried, independently of, or simultaneously with, each other and two, or more, delivering mechanisms for withdrawing the objects from the drying chamber independently of, or simultaneously with, each other.

These and other objects are attained by the invention as set forth in the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a highly diagrammatic side elevational view of a loop drying machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a highly diagrammatic, enlarged, top plan view looking in the direction of line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a highly diagrammatic view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section looking in the direction of line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a highly diagrammatic view looking in the direction of line 44 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational View looking in the direction of line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view looking in the direction of line 66 on Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring connecting certain switches which form part of the machine.

The loop drying machine iliustrated includes a drying chamber defined by bottom wall 11}, top wall 12, end walls 14 and 16 and side walls 18. The drying chamber is provided with heating elements, not shown, and with blowers, not shown, for moving a fluid drying medium over the heating element and into contact with the material to be dried. The machine is also provided with sprockets 20, 21, 22 and 23 for propelling endless chains 24-, which carry the poles P which support the material to be dried. One of the sprockets, such as sprocket 22, is driven by chain 26 which also engages the shaft of a motor 28. The operation of motor 28 is subject to control of a normally closed limit switch 29 and the arrangement is such that, when motor 28 is energized, it drives sprocket 22 to move the conveyor in the direction of arrow 27 until a pole P engages, and opens normally closed switch 29 to de-energize motor 23 and stop the conveyor. In other words, every time motor 28 is energized, the conveyor will move a distance sutflcient to move a pole P from position A to position B in Fig. 1. This permits the poles to remain stationary while the material to be dried is draped, or looped, over said poles in the manner hereinafter set forth.

By way of example, the machine is shown drying parachutes, but it is to be understood that other heterogeneous objects may be similarly handled. Also, by way of example, two, separately operable material feed mechanisms M and M are shown, but it will be understood that the number of feed and delivery mechanisms will vary with the number of the objects to be fed into, and withdrawn from, the drying chamber. By inspection of Fig. 1 it will be seen that the feed and delivery mechanisms are identical in structure and operation and, therefore, only the material feed mechanisms are shown in detail and described.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, feed mechanism M consists of rolls 3t 31 and 32 which are operatively interconnected by a driving belt '34, and that feed mechanism M. is formed of rolls 3t), 31' and 32', which are operatively interconnected by belt 34. Feed mechanisms M and M are driven from a common shaft 38 which is constantly driven by a chain 40 which also engages the shaft of a motor 4-2. Shaft 38 carries one half 44 of a magnetic clutch, the other half 45 of which is carried by scribed;

3 a suitably journalled, freely rotating stub shaft 46 which also carries a pulley 48 which is also engaged by belt 34. Feed mechanism unit M is similarly driven by a magnetic clutch one half44' of which is carried by shaft 38 and the other half 45 of which is carried by stub shaft 46'. Stub shaft 46' carries pulley 48' which also is engaged by belt 34'. With shaft 38 constantly running, it follows that, if magnetic clutch 4445' is engaged, as shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2, rolls 38', 31' and 32 will be rotated and, conversely, when clutch 4445 is disengaged, as shown at the left hand end of Fig. 2, rolls 30, 31 and 32 will not rotate, and vice versa.

In order to stop the rolls of feed mechanism M instantly upon disengagement of magnetic clutch 44-45, roll 30 of feed mechanism M is provided with a magnetic. brake 50, and, inorder to stop rotation of the rolls of feed mechanism M', roll 30 is provided with a magnetic brake 50'. When magnetic brake 50 is disengaged, as shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2, rolls 30', 31' and 32' are free to rotate and, when magnetic brake 50 is engaged, as shown at the left hand end of Fig. 2, rolls 30, 31 and 32 cannot rotate, and vice versa.

In order to eiiect simultaneous engagement of the clutch and disengagement of the brake of feed mechanism M, I provide a two-position switch 54, and in order to do the same in connection with unit M, I provide twoposition switch 54'. The manner in which switches and 54' are Wired to their respective magnetic clutches and magnetic brakes'forms no part of the invention, and is not claimed and, since it is well known to the average electrician, the wiring diagrams are not shown nor de- It is thought sufiicient to say that, in one position of switch 54, magnetic clutch 44-45 is disengaged and magnetic brake 50 is engaged and vice versa, and that in one position of switch 54' magnetic clutch 4445' is engaged and magnetic brake 50' is disengaged and vice versa.

Since, as stated, the material delivery mechanisms are identical with the material feed mechanisms, the parts of the delivery mechanism which are shown in Fig. 1 are designated as 39a, 31a, 32a, 34a, 38a, 40a, 42a, it being understood that these correspond to the parts of feed mechanism M or M and that two delivery mechanisms are used and that they are arranged in the man ner shown in Fig. 2.

In order to form a parachute or other heterogeneous object, into loops suspended from the poles, I provide a feed box which, as best shown in Fig. 1, consists of an outer wall 58, an inner wall 59, and upper and lower braces 60 for securing walls 59 and 58 in spaced relation to each other. The bottom and the top of the feed box are open and its ends can be open or closed. Wall 59 is pivoted at 62 so that the entire feed box can rotate about the axis of said pivot from the solid to the broken line position of Fig. 1. The box is normally biased to its broken line position by a tension spring 64 and is moved to its solid line position by the operator in the manner hereinafter set forth. At this point, it is sufficient to say that, as a parachute 56 enters the feed box, the operator of the machine swings the feed box, in one direction or the other, and stops, or starts the corresponding feed mechanism so as to drape the parachute, or any part thereof, as desired. For example, if it is desired to make the loop longer, or shorter, or if it is desired that the pack 65 in which the parachute is packed be near the top, or near the bottom of the loop, or elsewhere, or if it is desired to drape the shroud lines 66 (Fig. 5) on one pole or on another, it is merelynecessary for the operator to activate the particular feed mechanism in conjunction with the feed box. In the drawings, I show a single feed box as spanning two feed mechanisms, but this is wholly optional as it is within the scope of the invention to provide a separate feed box for each feed mechanism. Since the different parts of the same,

other, and, since one loop deliberately or otherwise, may i be longer, or shorter, than an adjacent loop, I provide endless rubber bands 68 (Figs. 5 and 6) which are carried by the poles and which be stretched and snapped on over an adjacent portion of the material on the particular pole to prevent the material from shifting.

Switches 54 and 54 are located on a platform 70 which also supports foot pedals 72 and 72', each of which is connected by a cable C to the front wall 58 of the feed box, or boxes, the arrangement being such that, if either of the foot pedals is moved, the feed box will move to its solid line positionand that, when the foot pedal is released, the feed box is moved by spring 64' to its broken line position as shown in Fig. 1. Switches 54 and '54 and foot pedals 72 and 72' are accessible to an operator standing on platform 70 or sitting on a chair 74. This chair is slidable on a track 76 so that, by pushing against platform 70 with his feet, the operator'can move his chair back and forth transversely of the machine. It will be noted that an operator sitting in chair 74 can look through the space between the upper end of adjacent end wall 14 and the overhead conveyor 24 into the drying chamber proper so as to observe the parachutes as they are draped on the poles. Another operator stands on platform 70' and, by using switch 78, he can energize the magnetic clutch and de-energize the magnetic brake of one delivery mechanism and by using switch 78' he can do the same with the second delivery mechanism.

In order to coordinate the activities of the operator on platform 70 at the feed end of the machine with the activities of the operator on platform 70 at the delivery end of the machine, I provide both operators with interdependent controls which are best shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The control of the operator at the feed end of the machine includes a green light 80, a red light 82 and switches 84, 86 and 88. If the operator at the feed end wishes to move the poles, he closes switch 84, for example, to energize green light 80' and, if conditions are right at the delivery end of the machine, the other operator closes switch 84' to energize green light 80. When the operator at the feed end of the machine gets the green light, he can close switch 84, for example, to energize motor 28 and move the conveyor. If conditions at the delivery end of the machine are not right, the operator at this end closes switch 84, for example, to energize red light 80' which informs the operator at the feed end that he must not move the conveyor. In fact, motor 28 is wired so that it cannot be energized unless green lights 80 and 80' are both energized. The same conditions apply, in reverse, when the operator at the delivery end of the machine wishes to move the conveyor. As previously stated, as soon as a pole moves from position A to position B, switch 49 will automatically open the circuit of motor 28 and will stop the conveyor 24. If conditions are such as to make continuous movement of the conveyor desirable, the operators will energize each others green lights and either will keep closing switch 82 or 82 or switch 49 may be temporarily shunted out of the circuit until it is again desired to include it in the circuit.

The individual parachutes, or other objects, can be handled separately or they can be tied together for continuous operation as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation has follows:.

The operator on the feed end of the machine slides himself to a position below feed mechanism M and moves switch 54 to a position to activate rolls 30, 31 and 32. An outside operator threads the end of the parachute, or of a string of parachutes, into feed mechanism M and the operator at the feed end of the machine actnates foot pedal 72 to move the feed box to its broken 1 line position in Fig. 1 to form one side S of a loop and a strictly controlled operation whereby the operator determines how long the loop, or any side thereof is to be, and where the pack 64 should be located, etc. When a loop is formed, the operator snaps a rubber band 68 at each end of the material as shown in Fig. to prevent the material from shifting. When the portion of the pole below feed mechanism M has been loaded, the operator moves switch 54 to a position to stop feed mechanism M and he slides his chair to a position below feed mechanism M. The operator now moves switch 54 to activate feed mechanism M and simultaneously the outside operator feeds another parachute, or string of parachutes, into feed mechanism M. The operator at the feed end of the machine now actuates foot pedal 72' to move the feed box as desired to form a loop on the portion of the pole below feed mechanism M. The operator at the feed end of the mechanism now closes switch 84 to energize green light 80' at the delivery end of the machine to inform the operator at that end of his intention to move the conveyor. If conditions are appropriate, the operator on platform 70' responds by closing switch 84' to energize green light 80. This informs the operator at the feed end of the machine that the conveyor may now be moved and it places motor 28 in the circuit of switch 88. The operator at the feed end now closes switch 88 to advance the conveyor from position A to position B in which switch 29 is automatically opened to stop the conveyor for the beginning of a new cycle.

The operator at the delivery end of the machine can likewise control the operation of the delivery mechanism as well as the progress of the conveyor in the manner described and he can be provided with a slidable chair similar to chair 74 if desired. The only mechanism that the operator at the delivery end does not have is the feed box and its controls. p

The machine has been illustrated as having two lanes, one below each feed and delivery mechanism so that two dififerent objects may be delivered to and removed from the machine independently of each other. However, when the object to be dried is Wide enough to span the entire width of the poles, both of the feed mechanisms and both of the delivery mechanisms can be operated simultaneously and it will be noted that the junctions of the rolls of feed mechanisms M and M are flush, or continuous so that an object can be draped over the junction of the feeding mechanisms M and M. This is accomplished by placing the magnetic clutches and brakes at the outer ends of the poles. It is also to be noted that three or more feed and delivery mechanisms can be incorporated in one machine and that each feed mechanism can be provided with its own feed box.

I claim:

1. A drying machine for drying sheet material of nonuniform texture and dimensions, said machine including a drying chamber, a plurality of spaced poles disposed transversely of said drying chamber and connected to form a conveyor, manually controlled propelling means operable controllably to move said conveyor through said drying chamber, a looping device above the receiving end of said conveyor, a feed mechanism for delivering said sheet material to be dried to said looping device, a first manual actuating means for controllably operating said feed mechanism to deliver different measured lengths of said sheet material to said looping device, a second manual independently operable actuating means for operating the looping device according to said different lengths controllably to suspend said sheet material from said poles and means for clamping said lengths of sheet material to their respective poles to prevent shifting due to the non-uniform lengths of material on different poles.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 and a delivery mechanism at the discharge end of the drying chamber, and means for controllably operating said delivery mechanism to withdraw said lengths of sheet material from said drying chamber as the drying of said lengths of sheet material progresses.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 and stop means for automatically de-activating said propelling means to arrest the movement of said conveyor Whenever any of said poles has moved through a predetermined distance.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 in which said propelling means includes two spaced, and independently operable, controls, and means operatively interconnecting said controls whereby said conveyor can only move by the joint action of both of said controls and can be stopped by the action of either of said controls.

5. The structure recited in claim 4 in which one of said controls is at the receiving end of the drying chamber and the other of said controls is at the delivery end of the drying chamber, and complementary signalling devices forming part of said controls respectively, whereby the persons operating said controls can signal each other as to operating conditions.

6. A loop drying machine including a drying chamber, spaced poles disposed transversely of said drying chamber and connected to form a conveyor, propelling means for controllably moving said conveyor through said drying chamber, a feed mechanism near the receiving end of the drying chamber for advancing the material to be dried towards the drying chamber, a box-like structure swingably mounted between said feed mechanism and the receiving end of the drying chamber and having its top and bottom open for the passage of the material to be dried therethrough, and means for controllably swinging said box-like structure to form the material to be dried into loops suspended from said poles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,213,502 Parkes et a1. Sept. 3, 1940 

